Optical and IR study of CdS nanoparticles dispersed in a new confined p-phenylenevinylene

In the present study we have synthesized CdS semiconducting quantum dots by reverse micelle method using dodecanthiol (C₁₂H₂₆S) as the capping agent. The synthetic medium consists of a quaternary water/Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)/buta-1-ol/hexane microemulsion. The size of the particles was controlled by changing the molar ratio W=[H₂O]/[SdS], where [H₂O] and [SdS] are the molar concentrations in hexane of water and SdS respectively. The CdS nanoparticles were embedded in a new PPV derivate named Fluorinated Bisphenol A P-phenylenevinylene (BPAF-PPV). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) showed a strong interaction of thiol groups with CdS nanoparticles. Blue shift of the optical absorption onset is observed due to quantum size effect. The band gap and particle sizes of the nanoparticles were deduced from optical absorption spectra and the use of an effective mass approximation (EMA) model. Photoluminescence spectroscopy evidenced a charge transfer process via the interface between BPAF-PPV/CdS nanoparticles.